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In the Phillies-Nats game, not only did Nix have the highest WPA, with his homer, he was responsible for the second biggest WPA game, his diving catch on Domonic Brown’s base loaded fliner with 2 outs in the 6th, worth -.121 for the Phillies.

So if Sean Rodriguez snags Elvis Andrus’s 2 rbi single in the 8th, the game would still be tied? Would Rodriguez’s snag have taken away Nelson Cruz’s rbi single in the 5th also? That would have been a heck of a defensive play.

Dusty — I had a similar question. I assumed not that Cruz’s rbi would have been erased, but rather that Tampa would have been awarded a run for pitching+fielding awesomeness. I do need to check the math on that, though.

I was never on the Drabek bandwagon, and thought too much of his value was in his last name … but I’d rather be dead wrong about this kid and have him turn out to be really good. Granted he’s enjoyed a blessed life, so I’m not throwing a pity party for him … I just empathize with guys when they’re struggling at something that is difficult to turn around.

the Pirates got every break imaginable on their way to victory.

Did I read that right? I’m not sure I’ve ever read those words before.

Daniel Descalso: 3 for 5, 1 3B. He hit a single in the 11th, but it was for naught.

I know he’s just a .287 wOBA player … but I can still root for him, right? He is 12th in the NL in WPA.

If you actually WATCH Drabek pitch, his problem is he tries to be too fine and his pitches have so much run that they run way too far off the plate. Once he trusts his stuff he’ll be really good. Because his stuff is absolutely terrific, he just tries to be way too fine.

Did you think Avila should be leading off? The Tigers don’t have anyone on the roster who works as a leadoff hitter, but Avila strikes me as a particularly bad choice. I’d hit him 6th with Cabrera, Martinez and Peralta at 3-4-5.